Should Columbus Have a Holiday?

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Statue of Columbus at Central Park

 The fact of the matter is, no matter how great a discovery Christopher Columbus made, he had absolutely no clue the level of his find.  Even on death’s doorstep he was persistently claiming that he found the West Indies. “Nonetheless to his death in 1506, Columbus stubbornly insisted that all of his discoveries lay close to the coast of Asia” (Taylor 37).  Columbus refused to change his opinion even when his last voyages showed massive coast lines on North and South America.  He died, wrapped in his own foolish ambition and confusion convinced that he had found the West Indies.

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Above: Columbus’ second voyage

One can spend a life time questioning the “what ifs” of a situation.  You can ponder mercilessly over what could have, should have, or would have happened.  That’s not important in this situation.  Columbus did not make any profound discoveries.  With or without Columbus, the “New World” would inevitably been discovered.  Columbus’ greatest contribution to the world was the catalyst of exploration that caused hundreds of others to explore and discover.  A day should not be devoted to celebrate the life of a man that caused much more harm than good.  Rather our time should be devoted to celebrating the age of exploration in general and the independent contributions, yes, reluctantly even Columbus’, that each brave explorer brought to the world.

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The new world.